This well-known quote from the second World Chess Champion, Emanuel Lasker, has stood the test of time. But is it still practical?

Time control in Lasker’s era was extremely long compared to today’s formats. Back then, if a player encountered a surprising novelty, he might spend over an hour trying to refute it. That’s no longer realistic. In modern chess, especially with faster controls and engine preparation, you simply can’t afford to burn that much time. Everyone knows: engine-backed moves are not refutable. You don’t try to crush them. You try to find a good enough move and keep playing.

Sure, 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment sounds like a lot. In practice, it’s not. Looking for a better move than a good one can often turn into a suicide mission on the clock.

So… should we abandon Lasker’s advice?

Not quite. I love the anecdote about Dr. Tarrasch and his rule:
“Rooks belong behind passed pawns.”
A student once wrote to him:
“Dear Doctor, I followed your rule. I put my rook behind the passed pawn — and I lost!”
Tarrasch replied with the same rule but added:
“…but only when it is the correct thing to do.”

There are no absolute principles in chess. That’s part of its beauty. The moment a player breaks the rules and it works, it creates something special. I’m thinking of that incredible Ivanchuk move against Van Foreest — placing a knight where it was attacked by five of the opponent’s pieces.

Unthinkable by normal standards. Brilliant in context.

The point is: principles or timeless wisdom, like Lasker’s, are not laws.
Perfectionists follow them too rigidly and often get into time trouble. Pragmatists dismiss them too quickly and miss deeper ideas. The best players develop a feel for when to dig deeper and when to trust “good enough.”

There’s no formula for this. But the stronger the player, the more they develop that intuitive sense:
“This position deserves more.”

The problem with “good” moves is that you can never be certain how good they are. But when you spot a great move, you feel it!

Next time you’re tempted to settle for something “good,” listen to your gut. Maybe, just maybe, Lasker’s quote will whisper in your mind and lead you to find the great move.